A very important aspect of taking high quality ID card photos is using the right backdrops and lighting. This is an essential aspect of your organization’s security, and something that we can’t stress enough. In some ways, it’s like cooking a good meal: you can have the highest quality pots and a top of the line oven, but you still need to have good ingredients to complete the process. Let’s take a look at why backdrops are such a crucial ingredient in ID card photos.
Professional Appearance
One of the key benefits of using backdrops when taking ID cards is that the photos look much more professional. There isn’t some plant in the background, or a window, or the corner of a picture frame to distract from the person’s face. Instead, the background is a monotone color that makes the individual’s face the focus of the image, without any distractions.
Better Security
A good photo also makes it easier for security personnel to verify the ID holder’s identity. The lack of visual distractions in the photo reduces the chances of accidental misidentification. But a good backdrop does much more than that…
Many organizations now utilize different backdrop colors to signify access levels. It’s a really wonderful tool because it provides an added level of security that is quite subtle and does not need to be disclosed to employees. However, it goes beyond giving security personnel the ability to gauge someone’s access based on the color of the background in their photo.
For example, if someone wanted to forge the card with a blue backdrop, they could certainly try. But not all shades of blue (or red or yellow) look the same. It depends on the lighting and the software used by an organization. Without having a legitimate card for comparison, it would be difficult for the forger to get the shade of the color just right. Security personnel, on the other hand, may inspect many such cards at their organization on a daily basis and develop an innate sense of what a typical card looks like. When they come across the forged card and it has a backdrop shade that is lighter or darker than what they see on a daily basis, it is more likely to pique the security personnel’s attention for further investigation.
Invest in Quality Backdrops
However, it’s important to note that not all backdrops are created equal. For example, some backdrops are made with special wrinkle-resistant material, or can be set up on stands that stretch the backdrop to reduce wrinkling. This is vital if you want to take good ID card photos, because wrinkles can create shadows and distractions within the image. Paying just a little more for a high quality backdrop can significantly improve the quality of your photos and your organization’s security.
Don’t Forget the Lighting
To fully leverage the benefits of a good backdrop, it’s also essential to have good lighting. This will eliminate distracting shadows on the ID holder’s face while taking the photo and will create greater contrast between the individual in the photo and the backdrop. After all, the colors that we see are simply a function of wavelengths of light being reflected off of a surface. If there isn’t sufficient light hitting the backdrop, then the color will not be vivid.
Save Some Time
Here at ID Edge we’ve helped many companies develop great practices for taking ID photos. We’ve seen tens of thousands of ID card photos – literally – and have deep insight into what works and what doesn’t. So don’t waste your time trying to figure out the best way to take your photos – why reinvent the wheel? Just give us a call at (800) 798-3343 or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help!